Feed amount setting device for a machine tool

Abstract

A feed amount setting device for a machine tool is provided wherein a cradle member, urged for contact engagement with a plate cam, is pivoted within a plane including the rotational axis of the plate cam when the same is rotated by a tool slide feed device. The pivotal movement of the cradle member is converted into the axial movement of a slide sleeve and an actuation sleeve, which is threadedly inserted into the slide sleeve for adjustment of the relative position thereto, in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the plate cam. The actuation sleeve is formed at its one end with a radially extended flange contacting a lever arm and, when axially moved, pivotally moves the lever arm to thereby actuate a switch element. This element, when actuated, controls the operation of the tool slide feed device.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by the Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A feed amount setting device for a machine tool wherein a feed device is provided to relatively feed tool and workpiece carriers, comprising: a cam member supported to be movable by said feed device and having a cam way;   a cradle member supported for pivot movement within a first plane perpendicular to a second plane including said cam way and urged to contact said cam way;   a slide sleeve supported for axial sliding movement in a direction parallel to said first plane and formed with a contact surface which extends perpendicularly to the axis of said slide sleeve for contact engagement with said cradle member;   an actuation sleeve coaxially received in and threadedly engaged with said slide sleeve, said actuation sleeve being formed with an actuation surface extending in parallel relation with said contact surface;   adjusting means for rotating said actuation sleeve to thereby displace the same relative to said slide sleeve in the axial direction thereof;   a lever arm pivotably carried and urged to contact said actuation surface of said actuation sleeve for transmitting the axial movement of said actuation sleeve to one end thereof in a predetermined magnification ratio; and   a switch element stationarily disposed in abuttable relation with said one end of said lever arm for controlling said feed device when actuated by said one end of said lever arm.   
     
     
       2. A feed amount setting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said cam member is rotatable by said feed device and formed with said cam way at a circumferential surface thereof;   said slide sleeve is slidable in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of said cam member; and   said cradle member takes the form of an L-letter for contacting said cam way of said cam member and said contact surface of said slide sleeve respectively at both ends thereof.   
     
     
       3. A feed amount setting device as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: a first roller carried at one end of said cradle member for rotation about an axis extending perpendicularly to the pivot axis of said cradle member and urged to contact said cam way of said cam member; and   a second roller carried at the other end of said cradle member for rotation about an axis extending in parallel relation with the pivot axis of said cradle member and urged to contact said contact surface of said slide sleeve.   
     
     
       4. A feed amount setting device as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said adjusting means comprises: a manipulation shaft rotatably carried and inserted at one end thereof into the actuation sleeve; and   key means held on said one end of said manipulation shaft and snugly received within keyway means formed on an internal surface of said actuation sleeve.